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人使いが荒い (ひとづかいがあらい) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
expression, i-adjective
work one's people hard ; be a slave-driver
Describes a person who pushes subordinates or employees relentlessly, often with a negative connotation. The expression is a fixed phrase; 荒い here means rough or harsh.
い
が
荒あら
い
上じょう
司し
の
下もと
で
は
長なが
く
働はたら
け
ない
。
I can't work long under a boss who is a slave-driver.
Written forms 人ひと 使づか いが 荒あら い
Standard kanji spelling for this fixed expression.
ひと 使づか いが 荒あら い
Kana-mixed spelling sometimes seen in less formal writing.
Kanji 使 use, send on a mission, order Similar words こき 使つか う こき使う is a verb meaning to work someone hard or exploit them, while 人使いが荒い is an adjectival phrase describing a person's nature or management style.
ブラック 企き 業ぎょう ブラック企業 refers to a company with exploitative labor practices; 人使いが荒い describes an individual's harsh treatment of workers.
Etymology A fixed expression combining 人使い (handling of people) and 荒い (rough, harsh). The exact origin is uncertain, but it likely arose naturally from the literal sense of rough handling applied to personnel management.
